Our church is a busy place throughout the week, with a large number of regular groups and activities. We hope that there really is something for everyone, and are constantly looking to find out what people need in our community. Whether you are a new parent, a student, or you live alone, everyone is an important part of our community and we should all be able to find something to feel part of.
1st Monday of the month, 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Teapot is a gathering of people to enjoy tea, coffee most importantly a range of delicious home made cakes. It is a friendly and welcoming event each month, and it a really good place to come if you are on your own or lonely and would like to meet and chat to new people. Teapot takes place in ‘The Cafe’ – the glass fronted area at the front of the building. Anyone is welcome to come to Teapot – especially suitable for cake lovers!
Mainly the second Tuesday of each month, Doors open at 5.45pm
Supper Club is a monthly gathering to enjoy a 3 course home cooked meal, complete with after dinner mints! Especially suitable for people who live alone or who do not enjoy cooking, Supper Club is popular with people of all ages and situations. There is no set charge, but a collection is always taken which, once food expenses have been subtracted, is donated to a different charity each month. The food is always delicious, the company is always good, and the charities always worth supporting. Supper Club ends with a 15 minute ‘devotion’ which gives guests something to think about at the end of the evening. Supper Club takes place in the large hall on the ground floor. Anyone is welcome at Supper Club. It is a very popular event so booking is essential. The list goes up on the church notice board 10 days before Supper Club.
CRAFT AND COFFEE
Tuesday Mornings, 10am – 12 noon
Anyone who enjoys crafts of any kind will enjoy Craft and Coffee. You can bring your own crafts to do and share, or learn a new craft. Refreshments are available throughout the morning, or you can buy a coffee from Make and Brew. The Craft and Coffee members meet in the large hall, enter from the car park at the back and follow the corridor to the end and turn right. Open to anyone interested in crafts of any kind.
LADIES CLUB
The third Wednesday of each month 2.00 – 4.00pm
All ladies welcome to come and meet in Room 3 for chat and a cup of tea.
Tadpoles Toddler group meets at 1-2.30pm, £2 per family, all welcome. We meet every week in term time. We make a small charge of £2 per session per family to cover refreshments, craft materials etc. We provide a very friendly welcome, refreshments for the adults and children, safe toys for building, climbing, playing and riding and a different craft activity each week. Julie and Tracey (who is also our link to Shirley Pre-School) are there every week to welcome parents, grandparents and carers and their children from birth to four years old. A team of volunteers from the church provide a welcome, friendly face and help with everything from admin and refreshments to setting up and tidying away. We are known locally as a friendly and well run group, and we are always happy to welcome new people and make new Tadpole friends!
Tadpoles takes place in the large hall on the ground floor. There is plenty of room for buggies and always open arms to cuddle babies so you can have a cup of tea!
For more information contact Julie: juliecatling@hotmail.com
Saturday morning once a month (usually the 2nd Saturday) 9.30am – 11.30am
Who Let The Dads Out is our group for dads, granddads and other male carers with their pre-school children. Meeting monthly on a Saturday morning from 9.30am – 11.30am, WLTDO has the feel of a VERY laid back toddler group. The smell of bacon greets us as we arrive and bacon and sausage butties and fresh coffee are a welcome feature of the morning. Little children have crumpets and toast soldiers!
The group is welcoming and friendly, and a great opportunity for dads to meet and get to know other local dads. The morning is flexible – dads can turn up any time (although there might not be any bacon butties left if you come really late!) And there are toys and activities for the children.
If you are interested in coming along to WLTDO, or you know a dad, granddad or male carer who you think might enjoy it, we would encourage you to come along.
Every Friday, 7.45pm – 9.00pm
Our church choir leads the singing each week at our 11.00am traditional service. Often, as well as leading the hymns, the choir will perform an anthem within the service too. Christmas is an especially busy time for our choir, with two special services during Advent, as well as carol singing engagements in our local community. The choir rehearses in the main church sanctuary itself. If you are interested in joining our church choir, please contact David, our choir master, at the church.
Wednesday Evenings, 7.30pm
Badminton Club takes place in the large sports hall on the ground floor of the premises. At the moment membership is closed.
Every Tuesday, 2.00pm – 4.00pm
Bowls Club meets in the upstairs hall. The hall is accessed via a staircase and a lift to the first floor. Open to everyone.
MEMORY CAFE
The third Monday of each month, in the cafe, 2.00pm – 4.00pm
The Memory Café is a friendly, safe place to be with other families living with dementia, somewhere to share and learn from your own and other’s experiences. There is no referral process, anyone with any memory difficulties is welcome. Representatives from Southampton’s dementia services (Often this an admiral nurse or someone from carers in Southampton, among others) are regularly on hand to answer your queries and help solve any potential issues you may be experiencing.
BEREAVEMENT CAFE
The last Monday of each month except in August
The Bereavement Cafe meets in Make and Brew at St James Road Methodist Church from 2pm – 4pm, offering support and chat to anyone recently bereaved.